Cigarette and cigar lighter



May 27, 1941. H, R UN 2,243,762

CIGARETTE AND CIGAR LIGHTER Filed April 13, 1940 WWJW Wink" Patented May 27, 1941 CIGARETTE AND CIGAR'LIGHTER.

Horace Robert Milan, St. Louis, Mo., assignor of one-half to Oswald L.

Bluege, Washington,

Application April 13, 1940, Serial No. 329,534

4 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a cigarette and cigar lighter particularly adapted for use by ladies, and of a size and shape to be readily carried in a handbag or other container, the cigarette and cigar lighter being of the flameless type employing a catalyst which becomes incandescent in co-action with a vaporizable fluid in the presence of air.

The principal object of the invention consists in the provision of a device of the character described which will be simple and inexpensive in construction, easily operated, and of an appealing nature, the cigarette and cigar lighter, being of the fiam'eless type operable withoutmanipulation of mechanical parts to cause a flame.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the combination and arrangement of partsdescribed in the following specification and illustrated in the accompany ing drawing, and while I have illustrated anddescribed the preferred .embodiments'of the invention, as they now appear to me,-it will be understood that such changes maybe made as will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental longitudinal vertical section, with parts shown-in elevation, and the parts of the lighter in inoperative'position. r

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the lighter ready for use.

Fig. 4-is a top plan of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2' looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7-1 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the catalyst used in connection with the lighter.

Whilein the drawing I have illustrated my device on a somewhat enlarged scale it will be understood that normally the complete device will be of a size corresponding to that of mechanical pencils which are now carried by ladies in their handbags.

In the drawing A indicates a barrel to which is connected, in any usual desired manner, a rotatable pencil tip B which is operated to expel or repel the lead C. The barrel A is formed of the hollow sections I and 2, the section I having the pencil tip B, rotatably connected at its outer endand is interiorly threaded at its inner end,

as shown at 3. The section 2 is interiorlythreaded'at opposite ends, as shown at 4 and 5, and the sections are connected together by means of the knurled nut 6 having thethreaded extensions 1 and8 asshcwn quite clearly in Figs. 2- and 3 of the: drawing. The-extension I engages the threads 3, of the section I, while the extension 8 engages the threads lof the section 2. A washer of suitable'material is shown at-9 positioned between the face of the knurled nut I5- and the end of the barrel section 2. Received in the central "recess of the threaded extensions 1, of the knurled nut 6, and supported thereby is a portion I0 of lipstick, this portion of lipstick normally extending into the hollow section I- of the barrel A. Supported in-the-central bore or recess of the extension 8; of the knurled nut 6, and engaging the end of the lipstick'portion is a resilient washer II, the purpose of which will be presently described moreindetail.

A knurled nut I2, having the-threaded shank portion I3, is received on what might be termed the outer end of the barrel section 2 with the threads of the shank portion I3 engaging the threads-5 of the barrel section.- This knurled nut is provided with the substantially V-shaped openings I4, shown quite clearly in Figs. 2, 3 and 6 of the drawing, and which openings permit the inlet of air in a manner which will be later apparent. These V-shaped openings extend inwardly from the centralthreaded bore of the nut l2 and athreaded shank I5 is threaded in the bore and carries a socket member I6, formed of translucent material preferably red. 1 The threaded shank I5 has a central bore I? in which is received one end of a tube I8, the opposite end of the tube being outwardly flared as shown at I9 and adapted to normally engage the surface of the resilient member II, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawing. 'The central bore I1, of the threaded shank I5, as well asthe tube I8, communicates'with the recess 26 of the socket V member I I5 and the outer face of the socket member normally closes the openings I4 in the knurled nut I2, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Plates 2I and 22 are received on the tube. It and positioned between these plates is an absorbent material shown at 23, preferably of felt. Theseplates 2I and 22 are of the shape shown more particularly in Fig. '7 of the drawing with5the projecting arm portions 24.

Received in the recess 20, of the socket member I6, is a catalyst indicated generally at D and this catalyst includes a disc or pellet 25 of platinum black or other suitable catalyst having perforations or openings so that the vaporizable fluid and air mix may pass to the interior of the catalyst to incandesce the same. The disc or pellet is enclosed within a casing or housing including an upper screen 26 and lower screen 21, connected at their peripheral edges by means of the band 23. The screen 21 is of the shape shown quite clearly in Fig. 8 of the drawing and has a dished or cupped portion into which the pellet or disc is received and held against lateral movement, air passages being provided around the edges of the pellet or disc through the screens 26 and 27. The catalyst is positioned in the recess 20 on a shoulder 29, the washers 30 and 3| being received on opposite faces of the con-- necting band 28, the washer 3| engaging the shoulder 29. A ring 32 is tightly fitted into the outer end of the recess 20 and engages the washer 30 to hold the catalyst against accidental displacement. The ring 32 has an outwardly directed flange 33 overlying the outer surface of the socket member.

A stopper is provided for enclosing the catalyst in the socket member, this stopper including the ring 34 which carries the resilient plug 35, preferably of rubber, and adapted to be inserted into the ring 32. A plate 36 is received in the ring 34 and protects the outer surface of the resilient plug as shown.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing I have illustrated my device adapted for use as a pencil and the lead C may be expelled or repelled by operation of the tip B. When it is desired to use the lipstick It! the barrel portion I may be unscrewed from the threaded shank portion I, of the knurled nut 6, and the section 2 of the barrel may be used as a hand grip for applying the lipstick to the lips.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing the cigarette or cigar lighter is shown with parts in closed or inoperative position, the socket member I6, closing the air openings I4 in the knurled nut I2, and the flared end I9 of the tube being closed by contact of the end of the tube with the resilient insert II. It will, of course, be understood that the felt or other absorbent material 23 will be saturated with the vaporizable fluid and, with the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, waste of this fluid is prevented from absorption and the catalyst is cut-01f from communication with the fluid during the periods of non-use. At the same time the catalyst is enclosed within the recess 20 of the socket member by the plug or cap. When it is desired to use the lighter the plug or cap is removed and this leaves an opening through the sleeve or ring 32 to the catalyst. The socket member IE will be rotated to unscrew the threaded shank I5 and this draws the tube I8 upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, somewhat compressing the absorbent material, and removing the flared end of the tube from the resilient insert II. At the same time the socket member I6 will uncover the air openings I4 in the knurled nut I2. When the parts are thus positioned the cigarette or cigar is inserted to a position with its end against the catalyst and on drawing on the cigarette or cigar air is drawn into and through the air openings I4 around and through the absorbent material 23, where the air is vaporized, and then upwardly through the tube I 8 into contact with the catalyst. The catalyst will become incandescent in coaction with the vaporizable' fluid in the presence of air and the cigarette or cigar will be promptly lighted. When the catalyst becomes incandescent there is a glow which reflects through the translucent material of the socket member I6 indicating to the user that the lighter is in operation. When the cigarette or cigar has been lighted the parts are returned to their initial position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

I want to lay particular stress on the formation and advantages of my catalyst. The pellet or disc 25 is of a frangible material and often becomes broken in the old forms of catalysts. In my form the pellet or disc is enclosed between the screenings 26 and 21 and the screening 21 is formed with a recess or well into which the disc or pellet is received and held against lateral displacement between these screenings. It will be noted that the side walls of the recess or well are inclined as shown quite clearly in Fig. 8 of the drawing and leaves a space so that air may readily pass through the side walls of the screen 21 around the outer edge of the disc or pellet and through the screen 26.

It will be understood that the vaporizable fluid may be introduced into the barrel section for absorption by the felt 23 in several manners such as through the openings I4 and central bore of the knurled nut I2 or by disconnecting the end of the barrel section 2 from the threaded shank or extension 8 of the knurled nut 6. At the same time a washer 31, similar to the washer 9, is inserted between the outer end of the barrel section 2 and the knurled nut I2.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cigarette and cigar lighter including a barrel having end closures one of which is provided with air inlet openings, a manually adjustable tube carried by that end of the barrel having the air inlet openings and extending into the barrel, a socket member carried by the tube and engageable for adjusting the tube, a catalyst positioned in the socket member, and absorbent material carried in the barrel and adapted to be saturated with vaporizable fluid, the socket member when in one position of adjustment engaging the end of the barrel and covering the air inlet openings and when in another position of adjustment uncovering the inlet openings for admission of air into the barrel.

-2. A cigarette and cigar lighter including a barrel having end closures one of which is provided with air inlet openings, a manually adjustable tube rotatably mounted in that end of the barrel having the air inlet openings and extending into the barrel, a socket member carried by the tube and engageable for rotating the tube into difierent positions of adjustment, a catalyst positioned in the socket member, and absorbent material carried in the barrel and adapted to be saturated with vaporizable fluid, the socket member when in one position of adjustment engaging the end of the barrel and covering the air inlet openings and when in another position of adjustment uncovering the inlet openings for admission of air into the barrel.

3. A cigarette and cigar lighter including a barrel having end closures oneof which is provided with air inlet openings and the other of which is provided with a resilient member, a manually adjustable tube carried by that end of the barrel having the air inlet openings and extending into the barrel, a socket member carried by the tube and engageable for adjusting A I I W.

1,1 dirk? the tube, a catalyst positioned in the socket member, and absorbent material carried in the barriel and adapted to be saturated with vaporizable fluid, the socket member when in one position of adjustment engaging the end of the barrel and covering the air inlet openings with the inner end of the tube in engagement with the resilient member and when in another position of adjustment uncovering the air inlet openings for admission of air into the barrel and removing the inner end of the tube from engagement with the resilient member to admit passage of air into and through the tube.

4. A cigarette and cigar lighter including a barrel having end closures one of which is provided with air inlet openings and the other of which is provided with a resilient member, a manually adjustable tube carried by that end of the barrel having the air inlet openings and extending into the barrel, 2, socket member carried by the tube and 'engageable for adjusting the tube, a catalyst positioned in the socket member, spaced plates carried by the tube, and absorbent material carried by the tube between the plates and adapted to be saturated with vaporizable fluid, the socket member when in one position of adjustment engaging the end of the barrel and covering the air inlet openings with the inner end of the tube in engagement with the resilient member and when in another position of adjustment uncovering the air inlet openings 1 or admission of air into the barrel, removing the end of the tube from engagement with the resilient member to admitpassage of air into and through the tube and compressing the absorbent material. I

HORACE ROBERT MILAN. 

